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Memoirs of a geezer : the autobiography of Jah Wobble : music, mayhem, life

"A frank and fascinating account of a geezer's life in the music business. Jah Wobble begins by offering the most authentic insider's account of the beginning of punk rock yet. He covers the celebrated ups of his career along with the downs, both personally and professionally. Throughout the book Wobble tells it like he sees it." --Provided by publisher.

Abstract:

Offers a frank and fascinating account of a geezer's life in the music business. This autobiography, of Jah Wobble, offers an insider's account of the beginning of punk rock. It includes his opinions of the great and good, from Malcolm Mcclaren to Peter Gabriel to Brian Eno to Iain Sinclair.Read more...

Reviews

Editorial reviews

Publisher Synopsis

Music Books of the Year: Like his bass, the lows are low and the style upfront. -- Ludovic Hunter-Tilney * Financial Times * Rather than another tale of redemption by a spoiled celeb, this autobiography - articulate, funny and sharply intelligent - reads like a valuable cultural historiography... Jah Wobble has already created one of the most remarkable and idiosyncratic discographies of any musician in Britain during the last 30 years. Memoirs of a Geezer helps to define the questing, sometimes troubled soul behind those legendary low frequencies. -- Alan Warner * Guardian * There isn't a dull page in this slyly entertaining memoir. Wobble is the ultimate punk and post-punk raconteur and for those not lucky enough to spend time with the great man, this book... is a terrific substitute... [A]n influential and revered bassist... Wobble's character assessments are always entertaining... -- Suzi Feay * Independent on Sunday * Blackly comic -- Helen Brown * Daily Telegraph * He writes as well as he plays... entertaining and uplifting. -- Tom Widger * Sunday Tribune * An exhilarating journey...he is an agreeable and thoughtful tour guide. -- Tony Russell * Mojo * Riveting account of East End bassist's life...Wobble's autobiography is extraordinary: brutally honest, often hilarious, resolutely adhering to his down-to-earth geezer principles but soul-searching and spiritual, with his beloved-but-embattled East End the recurring backdrop. While wit or received wisdom drip from every anecdote, he pulls no punches... Lucid, gripping and incredibly direct, Wobble has produced nothing less than a Cockney Chronicles. -- Kris Needs * Mojo * Sharp, funny and always searingly honest account of his life to date -- Jim Carroll * Irish Times * Post-punk bass behemoth and former London Tube driver bares all...It's a colourful read, full of the sort of old-school music business shenanigans you hope don't go on anymore... And Wobble can write... Very entertaining. -- Johnny Davis * Q * Wobble's writing is punchy and often extremely funny... It's the terse voice of a man staking out his own territory... the greatest of recent bassists. -- Derek Walmsley * The Wire * A thumpingly good read. * Hot Press * It's hard not to warm to the candour with which he tracks a life story which has survived alcoholism and endless back-stabbing, to emerge with a healthy perspective on the excesses of a misspent youth... All these years after PiL imploded, anger is still an energy. -- Keith Watson * Metro * [A] diverting tome...Wobble is far too busy to live in the past. -- Martha de Lacey * London Lite * Eminently readable account of the affable East Ender's journey...perfectly mixes open humility with cavalier swagger.In this engaging dichotomy, Wobble's personality shines through every anecdote and insight as he matches Devil-may-care visceral grit with cerebral self-analysis... Hilarious, unflinching, self-deprecating... therein lies this particular geezer's twinkle-eyed, likeably roguish charm. -- Ian Fortnam * Classic Rock * [S]prings off the page the same way a good pub raconteur ambushes you with words... -- David Pollock * The List * There's plenty to talk about with John Wardle...his honesty and forthrightness is the book's greatest strength...Wobble is an engaging narrator. -- Joe Shooman * Record Collector * Like you'd expect, gritty and witty recollections from "the nice one" in PiL -- Simon Reynolds * Blissblog * Jah Wobble gives a heartfelt account of himself in Memoirs of a Geezer, a beautifully observed record of much more than his time in the post-punk spotlight with John Lydon's PiL... -- Simmy Richman * Independent on Sunday * He writes with a punchy honesty and has a good ear for insult...an enjoyable romp through three decades of pop culture as well as an occasional meditation on working-class life and the changing face of London. -- Toby Lichtig * TLS * Passionate, digressive, angry, philosophical and full of (often jet black) humour... If the idea of getting as close as you can to having your ear bent by this talented but awkward customer appeals, you're likely to find things to enjoy here. -- Jamie Renton * Roots *Read more...